Over £1,200 Raised at the Orkney Blues Cruise!
What a day it was in Orkney! The sun shone, engines revved, and live blues echoed across the harbor as the local community came out in force for the very first Orkney Blues Cruise and Bike Show.
Whether folks joined for the morning coffee, rode in the grand procession, or parked up on closed streets to enjoy the live music, the energy was undeniable from start to finish.
A Ride to Remember
The day kicked off at St Margaret’s Hope School, where the local community greeted riders and spectators with warm tea, coffee, and home bakes provided by Soma’s Light. For those looking to ride in tandem, Lucy and Jacob led a group out from Kirkwall, setting the stage for an impressive turnout.
By 11:30 AM, the ride-out was officially underway. As the procession swept past Scapa Beach, latecomers filtered safely into the pack, heading along the scenic Orphir Road, past Houton and Brig O’ Waith, before making a triumphant entrance into Stromness.
Over 70 bikes and trikes—ranging from 50cc commuters to polished classic showpieces—lined up along Ferry Road. The closed street, framed by coastal views and pulsing live music from the pier head marquee, gave Stromness a true festival atmosphere all afternoon.
Rallying for Great Causes
Beyond the incredible bikes and brilliant young musicians, the heart of the event was supporting two vital charities doing life-changing work in Orkney and across Scotland:
Soma’s Light SCIO: Raising awareness and funding crucial mental health support for Orkney’s young people.
Poppy Scotland: Providing essential support to current and former armed forces personnel and their families.
Thanks to registration fees, bucket collections, and online donations, the event raised a phenomenal £1,237, split 50/50 between both organizations.
With Gratitude
A huge thank you goes to the Orkney Blues Festival Committee, the St Margaret’s Hope community for the warm hospitality, Aaron Budge Photography for capturing the day, and all the riders and locals who brought their energy to the harbour.
This event couldn’t have happened without the generous backing of our sponsors:
* The Ferry Inn
* Cooke Scotland
* McAdie & Reeve
* Pentland Ferries
Looking Ahead to 2027
With such an overwhelming response for year one, the desire to bring the Blues Cruise back is louder than ever. Keep your eyes on the Orkney Blues Festival social channels for updates—we can’t wait to see you all on the harbour again in 2027!
